The anticipation is building as the NFL schedule release is officially scheduled for 7 p.m. (CST) on Thursday. This eagerly awaited announcement will unveil the order in which the Green Bay Packers and the rest of the league will face off against their 2026 opponents.
The Packers’ home turf will see them hosting a mix of formidable teams, including divisional rivals Minnesota, Detroit, and Chicago, alongside Atlanta, Carolina, Buffalo, Miami, Dallas, and Houston. On the road, Green Bay will confront challenges at Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago, as well as New Orleans, Tampa Bay, New England, New York Jets, and the Los Angeles Rams.
While much of the schedule remains under wraps, early leaks have started to paint a picture of what the Packers’ journey might look like. As more games are confirmed, updates will follow to provide a clearer view of the season ahead.
Despite the mystery surrounding the full lineup, several key insights about the Packers’ 2026 schedule are already clear. Notably, based on the 2025 winning percentages, the Packers are bracing for the NFL’s third-toughest schedule. Their opponents boasted a combined winning percentage of .538 in 2024, trailing only the schedules of Chicago (.550) and Miami (.542). Arizona’s schedule matches Green Bay’s in terms of difficulty, also featuring a .538 winning percentage.
- Week 1: TBA
- Week 2: vs. New York Jets (9/20, noon, CBS or FOX)
- Week 3: TBA
- Week 4: TBA
- Week 5: TBA
- Week 6:TBA
- Week 7: TBA
- Week 8: TBA
- Week 9: TBA
- Week 10: TBA
- Week 11: TBA
- Week 12: at Los Angeles Rams (11/25, 7 p.m., Netflix)
- Week 13: TBA
- Week 14: TBA
- Week 15: TBA
- Week 16: TBA
- Week 17: TBA
- Week 18: TBA
Adding to the challenge, six of the Packers’ 14 opponents, considering they will face each NFC North team twice, are fresh off playoff appearances. Among these teams, New England stands out with an impressive 16-4 record that propelled them to the Super Bowl, while the Rams achieved a 14-6 record, earning a spot in the NFC Championship game. As the Packers prepare for a challenging season, fans and analysts alike are poised for what promises to be a thrilling ride.
1. Tough sledding
Based on 2025 winning percentages, Green Bay has the NFL’s third-toughest schedule as its opponents had a combined winning percentage of .538 in 2024. Only Chicago (.550) and Miami (.542) have harder schedules, while Arizona’s foes have the same winning percentage as Green Bay’s (.538).
Six of the Packers’ 14 opponents (they’ll play each NFC North team twice) made the playoffs last year. New England (16-4) reached the Super Bowl and the Rams (14-6) made the NFC Championship game.
2. Quarterback bonanza
If you like good quarterbacking play — and who doesn’t — this is the schedule for you. Green Bay will face reigning MVP Matthew Stafford of the Rams, 2024 MVP Josh Allen of Buffalo, and New England’s Drake Maye, who was the 2025 runner-up for MVP.
Inside the division, the Packers could see Chicago’s Caleb Williams, Detroit’s Jared Goff and Minnesota’s Kyler Murray twice. Dak Prescott of Dallas and former Packer backup Malik Willis, who is now with Miami, also headline a loaded quarterback schedule.
3. Gobble, gobble — a little bit early
Green Bay and the Los Angeles Rams will play in the first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game on Wednesday, Nov. 25. That Week 12 contest will be shown on Netflix.
Green Bay has played only one other Wednesday game in franchise history. That came on Sept. 28, 1938, against the Chicago Cardinals in Buffalo.
With the Packers playing on a Wednesday in Week 12, it’s highly probable they will have a bye in Week 11.
4. Micah vs. Jerry II
There’s no love lost between Green Bay standout edge rusher Micah Parsons and Dallas owner Jerry Jones. When those two couldn’t agree on a contract extension last summer, Jones traded Parsons to Green Bay. The Packers and Cowboys played to a 40-40 tie last season in Dallas. This year, the matchup moves to Lambeau Field.
5. No international games
The NFL has announced its nine international games and the Packers won’t be leaving the country. That should be good news for Matt LaFleur & Co. based on past performances. In 2022, Green Bay lost to the New York Giants, 27-22, in London, then came home and lost the following week to the New York Jets. In Week 1 of 2024, Philadelphia defeated the Packers, 34-29, in São Paulo, Brazil.
